Abstract: An anti-icing coating is provided having low interfacial toughness (LIT) with ice. The anti-icing coating includes a polymer and a plasticizing agent. A thickness of the anti-icing coating may be less than or equal to about 100 micrometers (?m). Further, the anti-icing coating has an interfacial toughness (?ice) with ice of less than or equal to about 1 J/m2. Such an anti-icing coating may be applied to a substrate or surface of a device on which ice may form, such as aircraft, vehicles, marine vessels, outdoor equipment, snow or ice removal equipment, recreational equipment, wind turbines, telecommunications equipment, power lines, and the like. Methods of forming such anti-icing coatings are also provided.

Abstract: A rational design and fabrication of ZnO/Al2O3 core-shell nanowire architectures with tunable geometries (length, spacing, branching) and surface chemistry is provided. The fabricated nanowires significantly delay or even prevent marine biofouling. In some embodiments, hydrophilic nanowires can reduce the fouling coverage by up to approximately 60% after 20 days compared to planar control surfaces. The mechanism of the fouling reduction is mainly due to two geometric effects: reduced effective settlement area and mechanical cell penetration. Further, superhydrophobic nanowires can completely prevent marine algal fouling for up to 22 days. Additionally, the developed nanowire surfaces are transparent across the visible spectrum, making them applicable to windows and oceanographic sensors.

Abstract: Durable superhydrophobic components have a superhydrophobic material disposed (e.g., disposed) thereon that exhibits an apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of ?about 150° and a roll-off angle of about ?15° for water after at least 100 abrasion cycles. The superhydrophobic material may comprise a low surface energy material and a polymeric material. The superhydrophobic material may be self-healing and capable of recovering its wettability after damage. In yet other aspects, a component comprises a surface that is superhydrophobic and reduces drag in turbulent flow conditions. The surface has an apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of ?about 150° and a roll-off angle of ?about 15° for water, and a product of dimensionless roughness (k+) and a higher-pressure contact angle hysteresis of less than or equal to about 5.8. Methods of making such materials are also provided.

Abstract: A rational design and fabrication of ZnO/Al2O3 core-shell nanowire architectures with tunable geometries (length, spacing, branching) and surface chemistry is provided. The fabricated nanowires significantly delay or even prevent marine biofouling. In some embodiments, hydrophilic nanowires can reduce the fouling coverage by up to approximately 60% after 20 days compared to planar control surfaces. The mechanism of the fouling reduction is mainly due to two geometric effects: reduced effective settlement area and mechanical cell penetration. Further, superhydrophobic nanowires can completely prevent marine algal fouling for up to 22 days. Additionally, the developed nanowire surfaces are transparent across the visible spectrum, making them applicable to windows and oceanographic sensors.

Abstract: An antimicrobial composition is provided. The antimicrobial composition includes a polymer matrix, an oil-derived component covalently bonded to the polymer matrix, and an oil-derived antimicrobial component non-covalently associated with at least one of the polymer matrix and the oil-derived component. Methods of making and using the antimicrobial composition are also provided.

Abstract: Icephobic coatings that reduce ice adhesion strength must often achieve extreme durability requirements, such as in aviation or wind turbine applications, to survive the impact of high-speed rain (i.e., rain erosion testing). A multi-layer coating having a thin metallic or metallic alloy film adhered to an underlying layer that is softer and thicker than the metallic layer achieves very low ice adhesion with adhered ice onto the icephobic coating.

Abstract: An anti-icing coating is provided having low interfacial toughness (LIT) with ice. The anti-icing coating includes a polymer and a plasticizing agent. A thickness of the anti-icing coating may be less than or equal to about 100 micrometers (?m). Further, the anti-icing coating has an interfacial toughness (?ice) with ice of less than or equal to about 1 J/m2. Such an anti-icing coating may be applied to a substrate or surface of a device on which ice may form, such as aircraft, vehicles, marine vessels, outdoor equipment, snow or ice removal equipment, recreational equipment, wind turbines, telecommunications equipment, power lines, and the like. Methods of forming such anti-icing coatings are also provided.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermoelectric element for use in a thermoelectric device comprises forming a mask adjacent to a substrate. The mask can include three-dimensional structures phase-separated in a polymer matrix. The three-dimensional structures can be removed to provide a plurality of holes in the polymer matrix. The plurality of holes can expose portions of the substrate. A layer of a metallic material can be deposited adjacent to the mask and exposed portions of the substrate. The mask can then be removed. The metallic material is then exposed to an oxidizing agent and an etchant to form holes or wires in the substrate.

Abstract: In various aspects, methods and apparatuses for liquid-liquid extraction are provided. In certain aspects, an emulsion can be formed by combining a feed stream, an extractant, and a surfactant. The feed stream comprises a plurality of distinct components including a first component to be removed therefrom. The feed stream may be selected from a group consisting of: a hydrocarbon feed stream and an azeotrope. Then, a portion of the first component is extracted from the feed stream (or emulsion) by contact with a superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter that facilitates passage of the first component and extractant through the superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter. A purified product is collected having the portion of the first component removed. Such methods are particularly useful for refining fuels and oils and separating azeotropes and other miscible component systems. Energy-efficient, continuous single unit operation apparatuses for conducting such separation techniques are also provided.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present disclosure provides porous materials having extreme wettability to polar or non-polar fluids, such as water and oil. The porous material has a coated surface comprising a low surface energy fluoroalkyl silane that is treated to exhibit at least one type of extreme wettability. In certain aspects, the disclosure provides a porous material comprising a coated surface that is both superhydrophobic and oleophilic, or superhydrophobic and superoleophobic, or superhydrophilic and oleophobic, by way of example. Methods of forming a porous surface having a predetermined wettability are also provided. Other embodiments include fluidic devices that incorporate porous materials having extreme wettabilities, such as microfluidic devices and separators.

Abstract: An article can have a surface with selected wetting properties for various liquids.

Abstract: Methods for forming multiphasic microparticles by using wettability engendered template self-assembly (WETS) techniques are provided. A template is used that defines wettable regions to polar and non-polar liquids and non-wettable regions to polar and non-polar liquids. A first liquid is applied to the template and forms a solid or semi-solid release layer. A second liquid is applied over the release layer to form a solid or semi-solid first layer and a third liquid is applied over the first layer to form a solid or semi-solid second layer. The first layer and the second layer can be released from the template by removing the release layer from the template with a treatment agent to form multiphasic microparticles. Methods for making the templates and multiphasic micro particles are also provided.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present disclosure provides porous materials having extreme wettability to polar or non-polar fluids, such as water and oil. The porous material has a coated surface comprising a low surface energy fluoroalkyl silane that is treated to exhibit at least one type of extreme wettability. In certain aspects, the disclosure provides a porous material comprising a coated surface that is both superhydrophobic and oleophilic, or superhydrophobic and superoleophobic, or superhydrophilic and oleophobic, by way of example. Methods of forming a porous surface having a predetermined wettability are also provided. Other embodiments include fluidic devices that incorporate porous materials having extreme wettabilities, such as microfluidic devices and separators.

Abstract: Durable icephobic materials form anti-ice coatings on a variety of substrates, including for aircraft, powerlines, vehicles, marine structures, communications towers, outdoor equipment, and the like. The icephobic may comprise an elastomeric polymer with a low crosslink density (e.g., ?1,300 mol/m3) and low initial ice adhesion strength (e.g., ?ice?100 kPa prior to exposure to icing conditions). Further, the icephobic material maintains ?ice after 10 icing/deicing cycles that is ?50% of the initial ?ice Introducing optional miscible liquids enhances interfacial slippage of chains in the elastomeric polymer. The low ?ice levels minimize ice buildup and eliminate necessary work to remove any accumulated ice via passive removal during normal operation. Other icephobic materials include linear polymers with plasticizers distributed therein or PDMS-silane coatings, both of which are free of any layers of surface liquids. Methods of making such icephobic materials are also provided.

Abstract: Durable superhydrophobic components have a superhydrophobic material disposed (e.g., disposed) thereon that exhibits an apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of ?about 150° and a roll-off angle of about ?15° for water after at least 100 abrasion cycles. The superhydrophobic material may comprise a low surface energy material and a polymeric material. The superhydrophobic material may be self-healing and capable of recovering its wettability after damage. In yet other aspects, a component comprises a surface that is superhydrophobic and reduces drag in turbulent flow conditions. The surface has an apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of ?about 150° and a roll-off angle of ?about 15° for water, and a product of dimensionless roughness (k+) and a higher-pressure contact angle hysteresis of less than or equal to about 5.8. Methods of making such materials are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a porous material having a surface that is concurrently both superhydrophilic (having a first apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of less than or equal to about 5° for water) and oleophobic (having a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 90°) or superoleophobic (a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 150° for oil). Such materials can be used in a separator device to separate a liquid-liquid mixture of immiscible components (e.g., oil and water) or miscible components (e.g., alcohols). Separation apparatus incorporating such materials and methods of making and using these materials are also provided.

Abstract: An article can have a surface with selected wetting properties for various liquids.

Abstract: Methods for forming multiphasic microparticles by using wettability engendered template self-assembly (WETS) techniques are provided. A template is used that defines wettable regions to polar and non-polar liquids and non-wettable regions to polar and non-polar liquids. A first liquid is applied to the template and forms a solid or semi-solid release layer. A second liquid is applied over the release layer to form a solid or semi-solid first layer and a third liquid is applied over the first layer to form a solid or semi-solid second layer. The first layer and the second layer can be released from the template by removing the release layer from the template with a treatment agent to form multiphasic microparticles. Methods for making the templates and multiphasic micro particles are also provided.

Abstract: Icephobic coatings that reduce ice adhesion strength must also enable ice delamination to ensure effective ice removal, especially when adjacent areas are not coated with icephobic coatings in which case an ice bridging preventer must also exist. The resulting mechanical devices ensure ice removal by leveraging specific ice delamination propagation features of the icephobic coating.

Abstract: In various aspects, methods and apparatuses for liquid-liquid extraction are provided. In certain aspects, an emulsion can be formed by combining a feed stream, an extractant, and a surfactant. The feed stream comprises a plurality of distinct components including a first component to be removed therefrom. The feed stream may be selected from a group consisting of: a hydrocarbon feed stream and an azeotrope. Then, a portion of the first component is extracted from the feed stream (or emulsion) by contact with a superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter that facilitates passage of the first component and extractant through the superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter. A purified product is collected having the portion of the first component removed. Such methods are particularly useful for refining fuels and oils and separating azeotropes and other miscible component systems. Energy-efficient, continuous single unit operation apparatuses for conducting such separation techniques are also provided.